Indoctrination In Bobby Martin's Short Story 'The Lottery'

In the short story “The Lottery”, the children remain ignorant of the actual detrimental consequences that ensue from the lottery due to the use of indoctrination teachings from higher authorities. This is first indicated when the children assemble around the town square with Bobby Martin’s pockets “already stuffed… full of stones, and the other boys soon follow[ing] his example, select[ing] the smoothest and roundest stones.” (1) The children are clearly aware of the social hierarchy within the town as they all follow Bobby Martin’s actions rather than pursue their own beliefs and values. This habitual action is a result of the indoctrination teachings that have been inculcated within every child. Because everyone else has accepted the long

history of the tradition, the children are forbidden to question the brutality of these ritual teachings. Instead, these teachings instill a specific set of beliefs and values within the children; as a result, they are unable realize the true outcomes that will negatively impact their own family. For example, when Nancy “took a slip [of paper] daintily from the box” (5), she acted with caution and displayed deferential respect towards Mr. Summers due to her understanding of the traditional routine. However, because of her obedience and compliancy, she is completely unaware of the consequences that follow from her actions. Furthermore, when both Nancy and Bill Jr revealed their papers at the same time, they “both beamed and laughed, turn[ed] around to the crowd and [held] their slips of paper above their heads” (5). Their lack of sympathy and compassion towards other family members who may have potentially obtained the paper with the black dot exemplifies the strong effect of indoctrination, which instigates ignorance among each child and causes them to blindly accept the tradition, regardless of its deleterious aftermath, in order to preserve its longevity. Lastly, when “someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles” (5) to encourage him to stone his own mother, this further demonstrates the harmful effects of complying with the actions of authorities as it causes a child to callously stone his own mother without a mere second thought. It is through these indoctrination teachings that cause the children in the town to blindly accept and imitate the actions of authority without realizing the cruel aftermath, due to their ignorance and lack of knowledge.